First off, I am in no way affiliated with the shop, nor am I paid to write about it. I just want to share my experience with it – since there are so many other sources out there of a more dubious nature. It is a challenge finding a good source of good quality beads to a good price, and know you are buying from a trustworthy seller.

I started out slowly in march 2013, buying a few beads here and there while I invested loads of time into tutorials. I was not really happy with my purchases, either from domestic or foreign online sellers. Thankfully I was on a small business trip to Copenhagen and found a good shop there. Home I fondled these new beads for awhile, making  – and eventually breaking what I made with them.

I added tons of shops as bookmarks in my web browser, and continued to buy from a few.  I really didn`t know what I was buying, since the descriptions were so scarce. Then, of pure happenstance, I stumbled on the site Magpie Gemstones – and my interest was peeked. Here was someone that took pride in picking the best quality for her customers, that added all the information needed to make a good buyer decision – and included everything. But alas – she was on the move and the shop was closed!

I waited, and waited. Months went by – and I continued to check the site –  drooling over the lovely pictures.

I made my first order on the site at the start of august 2013. I knew what I was getting, how they would look like, where the beads were from and what had been done to them. I also was sure I would be pleased. The shipping was speedy – a week from there to here is speedy, and not expensive. This is very important to me, as I have written about before.

After that first buy I have continued to buy from the same shop. Most of my beads now are bought there. I need to get wire and findings elsewhere, but the beads are from Magpie.

The owner, Szarka Dianne Carter, has made an interview that is a good read. You can also check out her tutorials on you tube.

I hope her company will continue to grow, and that even then she will be able to give the same quality service she does now.